Powder and Rails Full Episode: Tom Sims

What’s a show about snowboarding and it’s history without Tom Sims? I’ll tell you what it is, bullshit and that’s why we’re proud to tell you about this episode featuring the man, the myth, and the legend, Tom Sims. We take you from Tom’s first board all the way to the battle of Burton vs. Sims. It’s the story of snowboarding, growing up.

Tom Sims, Part One

Frustrated with closeting his skateboard through the winter months, a pre-teen Tom Sims decided to craft a board that could function in the snow. He hammered out one of the world’s first snowboards. Years later, after road tripping to his own private surf paradise in Santa Barbara, Tom made quick friends with Mike Chantry who later introduced him to Terry Kidwell. So wowed by the silky-smooth skate style of Kidwell, Tom sponsors the boarder on the spot. From there it’s freestyle snowboarding history.

Tom Sims, Part Two

The Tahoe City quarter pipe, snowboarding’s first halfpipe, was originally designed to be the Tahoe City Dump. By covering heaps of garbage with dirt, the city unknowingly made snowboard history. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right? Enter the original East Coast vs. West Coast battle. The clash between Burton and Sims starts with the first snowboarding halfpipe competition and ends with a legal dust-up over each team’s claim to snowboarding legend Craig Kelly. In essence, snowboarding grows up.